This study was conducted to explore whether hyperspectral data could be used to discriminate between the effects of different rates of nitrogen application to a potato crop. The field experiment was carried out in the Central Potato Research Station, Jalandhar, on seven plots with different nitrogen (N) treatments. Spectral reflectance was measured using a 512-channel spectroradiometer with a range of 395-1075 nm on two different dates during crop growth. An optimum number of bands were selected from this range based on band-band r 2 , principal component analysis and discriminant analysis. The four bands that could discriminate between the rates of N applied were 560, 650, 730, and 760 nm. An ANOVA analysis of several narrow-band indices calculated from the reflectance values showed the indices that were able to differentiate best between the different rates of N application. These were reflectance ratio at the red edge (R 740/720 ) and the structure insensitive pigment index (SIPI). To estimate leaf N, reflectance ratios were determined for each band combination and were evaluated for their correlation with the leaf N content. A regression model for N estimation was obtained using the reflectance ratio indices at 750 and 710 nm wavelengths (F-ratio = 32 and r 2 = 0.551, P \ 0.000).

PurposeThe manufacturing industry is presently experiencing technological disruption on a global scale. Consequently, to tackle such disruption, firms are identifying a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) scenario and seeking ways to counter it. Accordingly, this paper aims to investigate the employee performance through assessing organizational citizenship behaviour (OCB) among the shop floor employees of the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry where a high-performance work system (HPWS) has been implemented.Design/methodology/approachA descriptive research design was used in the study, and 395 shop floor employees working in leading multinational firms, with a minimum global turnover of US$1bn, were interviewed. These manufacturing firms were located in three industrial clusters in the northern part of India.FindingsThe results indicate that HPWS influences OCB. Most of the dimensions of HPWS and OCB were found to be positively associated. The findings also disprove the labour process theory in the context of the study.Practical implicationsThe findings report a broad view of the relationship between HPWS and OCB in the Indian manufacturing context. The study offers the practical insights that HPWS is a universally accepted framework and that organizations should focus on the effective implementation of HPWS in a VUCA scenario, which is in line with past studies. The study also provides future directions for research.Originality/valueThis paper has established the relationship between HPWS and OCB in the manufacturing sector, especially for shop floor employees.

The effect of four nitrogen levels {0 kg N ha -1 (N 0 ), 50 kg N ha -1 (N 1 ), 100 kg N ha -1 (N 2 ) and 150 kg N ha -1 (N 3 )} two QPM hybrids {Shaktiman-2 (G 1 ) and Shaktiman-4 (G 2 )} and three levels of sulphur { 15 kg S ha -1 (S 1 ), 30 kg S ha -1 (S 2 ) and 45 kg S ha -1 (S 3 )} in quality protein maize (QPM) production for two years on an experimental field (Sandy clay loam) located at Agricultural Dryland Research Farm, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India. Each treatment was replicated three times in split plot design. The aim of research was to determine the influence of nitrogen and sulphur levels on yield, quality and economics of QPM hybrids under dryland condition.The significantly highest plant height, leaf area index (LAI), yield, net returns, benefit: cost ratio (B: C), lysine and tryptophan content were recorded with 150 kg N ha -1 (N 150 ) as compared to N 100 , N 50 and N 0 . On average QPM hybrids, Shaktiman-4 produced significantly taller plant (171.68cm), higher LAI (5.49), grain yield (60.54 q ha ), net return (Rs. 39825.09 ha -1 ), B: C ratio (2.26), tryptophan content (0.79%) and lysine content (3.91) than Shaktiman-2× S 15 .

No abstract

No abstract

Abstract:The quantity and quality of residues determine the formation and stabilization of aggregate structure for soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. Plant roots and residues are the primary organic skeleton to enmesh the inorganic particles together and build macro-and microaggregates while sequestering SOC. There are three major organic binding agents of aggregation: temporary (plant roots, fungal hyphae, and bacterial cells), transient (polysaccharides), and persistent (humic compounds and polymers). Conversion of natural ecosystems into agricultural lands for intensive cultivation severely depletes SOC pools. Magnitude of SOC sequestration in the soil system depends on the residence time of SOC in aggregates. Microaggregates are bound to old organic C, whereas macroaggregates contain younger organic material. Many techniques have been used to assess the SOC distribution in aggregates. Classical methods include SOC determination in aggregate fractions by wet and dry sieving of bulk soil. Isotopic methods including the determination of 13 C and 14 C with mass spectrometry are techniques to quantify the turnover and storage of organic materials in soil aggregates. Other techniques involve the use of computed tomography, X-ray scattering, and X-ray microscopy to examine the internal porosity and interaggregate attributes of macro-and microaggregates. Current state-of-knowledge has not unravelled completely the underlying complex processes involved in the sequestration, stability, dynamics, and residence times of SOC in macro-and microaggregates. There is a need to develop a unique conceptual model of aggregate hierarchy.

One-time heavy application of P on certain soils can provide sufficient available P to sustain crop production over a period of several years, but may cause Zn nutritional problem for crops. A field study was conducted to determine tbe effect of applied Zn on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown on residual P plots and identify tbe mechanism of P X Zn interaction. This study was conducted in 1984 in a continuous wheat system on a clayey, mixed, frigid Typic Hyploboroll soil that bad received 0, 80, and 160 kg P ba -• in 1979. Three experiments were carried out using a split plot randomized complete block design with three levels of P as m~in plots and rates of soilapplied Zn-sulfate (0, S, 10, and 20 kg Zn ba-•) or Zn-cbelate (0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 kg Zn ba-1 ) or foliar-applied Zn-cbelate (0 and 0.35 kg Zn ba-•) as subplots. A one-time application of 80 or 160 kg P ba-• increased wheat yield significantly. In the presence of P, application of Zn resulted in significant increase in grain yield and Zn uptake into grain. Applied P increased soil P levels and tissue P concentration, but resulted in a significant decrease of tissue Zn levels. DTP A ( dietbylenetriaminepentaacetic acid )-extractable soil Zn levels in the non-Zn-amended treatment were independent of P application rate. Plant roots in bigb P treatments contained significantly lower levels of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (V AM) infection than tbe control. Further, a close relationship was observed between Zn levels in tbe aboveground plant parts and V AM infection.AdditioiUll index words: Phosphorus X Zinc interaction, Vesiculararbuscular mycorrbizae, Triticum aestivum L., Zinc-sulfate, Zincchelate.' Publication no. R446 of the Saskatchewan Inst. of Pedology.

Exstrophy of the bladder is a rare congenital anomaly with an incidence of about 1 per 50,000 newborns. The malignant potential of the exstrophied bladder mucosa is well known; 95% are adenocarcinomas, and 3% to 5% are squamous cell carcinomas. Most of the malignant tumors (60%) associated with an exstrophy of the bladder occur during the fourth and fifth decades of life. Of the remaining, about 20% each occur after 60 years and before 40 years. Here we present a case in which squamous cell carcinoma developed in an unrepaired exstrophy of the bladder. We present the management of the case and a brief review of the literature.